Jose Mourinho has selected Antonio Valencia as Manchester United’s new captain for the 2018-19 season.
Michael Carrick was before now the club’s nominal captain last season, but he played just five times in all competitions before retiring in May.
With Carrick moving into a coaching role with the Red Devils, United had no designated captain for the new campaign, but Mourinho has provided clarity by naming the experienced Ecuador international as the new club captain.
Mourinho also named four players likely to inherit the role if Valencia misses out, while also indicating that summer 2017 signing Nemanja Matic is also being considered but may have to wait until he spends more time at Old Trafford.
“Valencia will be the captain but when he doesn’t play, we have to make decisions – it depends who is on the pitch,” Mourinho told the club’s official website.
“If [Chris] Smalling is, if Ashley Young is, if [Ander] Herrera is or if [Juan] Mata is, if they are on the pitch, they are an option. I think Matic has all the attributes to be Manchester United captain but of course he only arrived one year ago.
